1. to turn a sailing ship around by putting the helm hard alee and hauling the foresail to windward
Usage: nautical; transitive or intransitive

Examples

• The captain ordered the crew to boxhaul the ship when the wind shifted unexpectedly.
• In heavy seas, boxhauling required quick coordination among the sailors.
• The vessel was boxhauled to avoid the rocky shoals ahead.
• Experienced sailors could boxhaul a ship in minutes.
• When the usual tacking maneuver proved impossible, the crew chose to boxhaul instead.